The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in English language arts. The lowest is 50% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Fifth District Elementary
Fifth District Elementary sits in Upperco, a rural, unincorporated community with rolling hills and agricultural land that straddles Baltimore and Carroll counties. It is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade and part of the Baltimore County Public Schools system. The school building sits on Mount Carmel Road, and the surrounding area has no walkable downtown. The community’s civic anchors are the volunteer fire company, the post office, and a local fairground that hosts steam engine shows, tractor pulls, and a bluegrass festival, giving the place a distinctly agricultural-country-fair character. Most residents likely commute to nearby larger towns for work; no major employers are located in Upperco itself.
The school enrolls a relatively small student body for an elementary school, with a mix of grades that lean slightly larger in the upper elementary years. The student population is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and a very small Asian population. There are no Black or Native American students enrolled. A limited share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a figure well below national averages, which points to a generally more affluent peer environment.
Academically, Fifth District Elementary posted strong results on the state’s MCAP assessments. In English language arts, proficiency rates were solid across all tested grades, with third and fourth graders performing especially well and fifth graders showing a still-strong but slightly lower rate. In math, third and fourth graders also showed high proficiency rates, while fifth-grade math results were reported within a range that still suggests a solid majority of students met the bar. Science testing, administered only in fifth grade, showed that half of students reached proficiency, a softer spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school. Overall, the school’s combined ELA and math proficiency rates are high, placing it on strong academic footing among elementary schools in the region.
Because the school serves only kindergarten through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate or high school data to report. Attendance and discipline data were not available in this profile, nor were details on staffing ratios or special education and English learner populations. The school’s Title I status was not listed.
The district context is worth noting for families considering this elementary school as a starting point. Baltimore County Public Schools adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, shifting toward a science-of-reading approach that emphasizes phonics and phonemic awareness. The district also approved boundary changes for several feeder systems, taking effect in the 2025-2026 school year, though it was not specified whether Fifth District Elementary’s attendance zone was affected. A new district-wide cell phone policy now restricts phone use during instructional time for elementary students, and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is expanding pre-K access and increasing teacher salaries across the county. Voters approved a bond issue for school safety and security improvements, funding upgrades like secure entrances and security cameras.
The housing market in the Upperco ZIP code is above both state and national benchmarks for home values, with prices reflecting the rural-suburban character of the area. Housing affordability data points to a market where owning a home requires a substantial income, and renting is a relatively more accessible option. The national unemployment rate was steady, and the broader economic context shows moderate growth in housing costs.
Fifth District Elementary fits a family looking for a small, rural school with strong academic performance in the early and middle elementary years, set in a low-density community with an agricultural feel. The peer environment is largely homogeneous and economically advantaged. Families who want a walkable neighborhood or a dense suburban setting will not find that here. Those considering the school should confirm the current attendance boundaries and any feeder patterns, especially given recent district boundary adjustments, and may want to ask about the fifth-grade science results and how the school supports students in that subject.
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